BAYONNE – An era came to a close on Wednesday, June 18, as the five City Council members of Mayor Mark Smith said their good-byes to each other and the city in their last regularly scheduled meeting.

Like Smith, Council President Terrence Ruane and Council Members Debra Czerwienski, Agnes Gillespie, Joseph Hurley, and Raymond Greaves all lost their reelection bids in the 2014 municipal balloting. Gillespie lost outright in the regular May 13 election; the mayor and other council members were all defeated in the June 10 runoffs.

The council members thanked city directors and employees for their help over the past four years. For Ruane it was even longer, as he served prior to the 2010 election.

Third Ward Councilman Raymond Greaves thanked residents for giving him the opportunity to serve the city.

“In politics, you can’t always be right, but you’re not always wrong either,” he said.

Like his fellow council members, Greaves congratulated the incoming council members of Mayor-elect James Davis’s team who will take office July 1. He also offered his help “in any way possible.”

Longtime City Clerk Robert Sloan had words of praise for the outgoing council.

“You guys have been as good as any council I’ve ever seen, and I imagine as good as any I will see,” he said.

Just minutes after the council meeting ended, all of their nameplates had been removed. – Joseph Passantino